This is Hull and East Riding -- Daily transfer rumours from the press as Hull City prepare for life in the Premier League. German paper Bild says former Wigan Athletic utility man *Paul Scharner* could be on his way to Hull City. Bild says Scharner is set to leave Hamburger SV this summer and claims his representatives are already in talks with City. The report adds progress could be made at a meeting during the Tigers' visit to Eintracht Braunschweig today. Scharner was on loan at Wigan last season and starred in the FA Cup final triumph at Wembley. The former West Brom man, 33, can play in defence or across the midfield and was managed by Bruce during his first spell at Wigan. He claimed earlier this summer to have turned down a move to Everton in favour of fighting for his place at Hamburg. City are also being linked this morning with a move for Watford striker *Troy Deeney*. Sky Sports suggests City, Swansea and Crystal Palace are among Premier League clubs tracking Deeney - a key part of the side that so nearly denied the Tigers automatic promotion. Deeney, 25, scored 20 goals last season and was on target again at the weekend when he fired Watford to a 1-0 win over Birmingham. Bruce, of course, has said his priority is to add midfielders to his squad and Evian anchorman *Eric Tie Bi* is likely to feature again for the the Tigers against Braunschweig this evening as part of his trial. The Mirror claims City will have to shell out £1.5m for the 23-year-old French-Ivorian midfielder. Bruce could also face competition for Sunderland's *Jack Colback*, with The Star claiming West Brom are also keeping tabs on him. City were also speculatively linked with QPR midfielder *Stephane Mbia* over the weekend. Now, The Sun says Cardiff are ready to swoop for him. Meanwhile, Malaga are back in for Arsenal striker *Nicklas Bendtner* - just in case any City fans carried lingering hopes of him turning up at the KC. Crazy Twitter talk: *Matty Fryatt* on loan to Bradford City? We've heard of stranger rumours, but even if Bruce deemed Fryatt surplus to requirements, a host of Championship clubs would surely be interested? *August 5* *Jack Colback* from Sunderland, *Alou Diarra* from West Ham or *Stephane Mbia* from QPR? Those were the names being floated around the papers over the weekend as the rumour mill ground out the options for strengthening Hull City's midfield. But Steve Bruce looks increasingly likely to look beyond England, according to our own Phil Buckingham, who is with the Tigers on their Germany tour. After Bruce slammed the "lack of value" in the English transfer market, he dropped his biggest hint yet that he will bring in midfielders from Europe. "The value for money in England isn't there," he tells today's Mail. "I'd love to find a 23-year-old Englishman for the right price, but where are they? "I look at Sagbo and ask where could I get someone like him for that money in England? You can't." We understand Bruce will look to push forward this week with a loan deal for Marseille's *Morgan Amalfitano*, a creative midfielder with Champions League experience. Meanwhile, Evian triallist *Eric Tie Bi* will play again in the friendly with German side Eintract Braunschwieg on Tuesday, after he impressed Bruce in a defensive midfield role against Dynamo Dresden on Saturday. There's been talk in the papers of Evian wanting £1m for Tie Bie, although Bruce would only say "there would still be a bit to do". "I don't think (Evian) will just let him go," he added. "We haven't explored that just yet." If there is one English midfielder Bruce would no doubt love to have at the KC, it is Sunderland's Jack Colback. The Northern Echo claims this morning City will table a formal bid for the talented 23-year-old, who established himself in the Premier League under Bruce's management. Colback is in the final year of his contract and has rejected all offers of a new deal. However, a deal looks difficult, partly because Paulo Di Canio seems determined to hang on to him and partly because a fee in the region of £5m appears a stretch for City. This morning's *Journal*, which covers Sunderland, says Di Canio will instead try to persuade the midfielder he has a future at the Stadium of Light as a full-back. Colback's importance to Sunderland would decrease if they were able to sign a natural left-back, but their ongoing search in that area is no closer to being resolved, according to the Echo. Di Canio remains willing to sell *Lee Cattermole* but Bruce would prefer to look elsewhere. Meanwhile, a deal for Stoke City midfielder *Wilson Palacios* looks further away than ever today after he played another 45 minutes in a friendly at Wrexham. Now, the Stoke Sentinel says Palacios could be in line for a shock start on opening day at Liverpool. Potters boss Mark Hughes said: "He's had a difficult time for whatever reason, but he's an accomplished player who understands the game. He's certainly in my thoughts," explained Hughes. "A lot of guys are putting their hands up for the first game, but there's a lot of things I need to see and work to be done over the last fortnight of pre-season." The other big news this morning is the KC trial for young Egyptian forward *Mahmoud Kahraba*. We talked about under-20 international Kahraba last week and now Bruce has confirmed he could well be "one for the future". Kahraba was said to be close to a move to Swiss side FC Luzern, before City's interest became known, according to Egyptian football website KingFut. The 19-year-old, who plays for the ENPPI club, was an influential player for Egypt in the 2013 African Youth Championship in Algeria and the U-20 World Cup in Turkey. Described by Egyptian sources as an attacking midfielder, he apparently won his nickname "Electricity" because the energy he brings to the pitch rubs off on his team-mates. Crazy Twitter talk: Fans were left perplexed after Sky Sports reported Hull City had signed Arsenal goalkeeper and one-time Tiger *Vito Mannone*. "Think they'll find it's Sunderland", tweeted James Pitt. *August 4* SO have Hull City finally found reason to end their striker search with Yannick Sagbo finding the net on his debut in Germany yesterday? It was certainly a positive start for the £1.6m star, and with the departures of Corry Evans and Tom Cairney to Blackburn last week, the focus now certainly looks to be in midfield. With manager Steve Bruce admitting a move for Stoke's Wilson Palacios, a deal he has chased all summer, appears to be 'drifting further away', there are suggestions he may now turn to former club Sunderland to strengthen. The name being touted is that of Jack Colback, as he has refused to sign a new deal at the Stadium of Light, with a fee of around £4.5m thought to be on him. With Bruce admitting last week's transfer business had been aimed at adding cash to his kitty, perhaps this is why? He surely still has some cash to spend on transfers, given he was operating on a budget of around £10m at the start of the sunner. Colback, 23, has one year left on his existing deal with the Black Cats, and that could help City when it comes to negotiating on price. Of course, Bruce hinted that he would like three new midfield players in place before lining up to face Chelsea on the opening day, and that means he will be keeping a close eye on trialist Eric Tie Bi in the coming days, following his short cameo appearance in Germany on Saturday night. The Evian midfielder, also 23, is due for a longer run-out in Tuesday night's final friendly in Germany, as Bruce ponders a possible move. The third possible addition? Well, that is increasingly looking like Marseille's creative midfielder Morgan Amalfitano, a player Bruce believes could be the man to add that extra quality needed in the middle. It is our understanding that Bruce will look to push that deal on this week, and that is the one furthest down to the line to a possible completion at present.
Reported by This is 33 minutes ago.
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